The “Donkey” the Lord “Needs” - Morning by Morning, April 10, 2025

“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, (Jesus) sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a (young donkey) tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.’

“So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, ‘What are you doing, loosing the colt?’

“And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna!
 ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
 That comes in the name of the Lord!
 Hosanna in the highest!’” (Mark 11:1-10)

Written and sent out from the morning prayer time of Tommy Hays each day.

God bless you and may you have a great day!
—Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

http://messiah-ministries.org

Transcript

Morning by Morning, April 10, 2025 - The “Donkey” the Lord “Needs”

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Savior of the world, Savior of my soul, be Lord and Savior of all that I am and all that I’ll do today. ...

“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, (Jesus) sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a (young donkey) tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.’

“So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, ‘What are you doing, loosing the colt?’

“And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna!
 ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
 That comes in the name of the Lord!
 Hosanna in the highest!’” (Mark 11:1-10)

What could God ever need? What could You ever “have need of?”

How could the Lord have need of anything? Whether in the heavens as our Creator or on earth as Immanuel, God with us, as our Savior, in the likeness of the human flesh and blood of Your incarnation, what could You “need” that You don’t already have?

You are all-sufficient, all-knowing, all-powerful. You are our “All in All” (1 Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 1:23). And yet, at the same time, the Word of God says You were in “need” of this colt, a young donkey, for Your triumphal, yet humble, entry into Jerusalem for the holy week before Your crucifixion and resurrection.

Centuries before, by the Spirit of God, Zechariah had prophesied of this joyful day that Messiah would come riding into Jerusalem: 

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
 Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
 Behold, your King is coming to you;
 He is just and having salvation,
 Lowly and riding on a donkey,
 A colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).

Though this Word was prophesied and pre-ordained by God, there was yet a part to be fulfilled by man. You had need of a donkey; and You had need of the obedience of Your disciples to go and get it and bring it You, that the prophecies and promises of God would be fulfilled.

It’s the same for us today. It’s Your will that none should perish, but that all would turn to You in repentance and faith to believe and embrace Your mercy and love (2 Peter 3:9; 2 Timothy 2:25). You’ve made provision for the salvation of all through Your sacrifice at the cross and resurrection in glory at the hand of our Father (John 3:16). Yet each one must choose to receive the gift of God You’ve provided for all, that each one may be saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), that all who believe in their heart and confess with their mouth that God our Father raised Jesus our Savior from the dead will be saved (Romans 10:9).

And at the same time, You extend Your glorious, gracious invitation of mercy and love through us. This in part of Your plan is to be fulfilled in obedience by us as Your disciples, as Your ambassadors. “So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). 

In this sense, You have chosen in Your sovereignty to be in “need” of us, in this way—“needing” us to be obedient to You to go and share this good news of Your mercy and love. “For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:13-15 NLT)

Here I am, Lord; send me (Isaiah 6:8). Just like that young donkey You had “need” of, let me be Your “donkey,” Your disciple, one of Your ambassadors to go and share with others what You’ve done in me. Anoint me, empower me, send me to be one of Your messengers of Your good news (Matthew 28:19). 

I’m happy to go and fetch Your donkey. I’d be happy to go and be Your donkey, to carry You and the good news of Your mercy and love to all who desperately need to know You and Your love for them. You’ve done Your part. Now, in the power of Your grace, may I be found faithful to do mine. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.